Last year while visiting Retro Classics in Stuttgart, i bought a newly renovated Boge Hydromat. This unit is a hydraulic cylinder that sits in the middle of the rear axle on my W108. For a long time, these were impossible to get from the factory, and failed units were replaced with a spring instead. A set up you can find on a pagode from the factory. Luckily, ZF has started to refubish these old Boge Hydromats (Bogebein/hydro compensator) so it is finally possible to experience these cars like the factory meant them to be.

First step was to remove the spring. A friend with a specialist classic Mercedes shop did the work.

And then the Boge Hydromat was mounted.

A testdrive afterwards show the driving characteristics of the car to be quite different. After a bump, if feels stiffer, but not with less comfort. Turning into a corner, it feels more secure and not so loose in the rear end.

All in all a really good upgrade that everyone that has one of these cars needs to get!